Vice Admiral
Samuel Olajide Afolayan was born on the 15 of January 1948
in Osi, Ekiti Local Government area of Kwara state. After
his primary school education, he attended Titcombe College,
Egbe in Kogi state for both his O’Level and Higher School
Certificate from 1962 – 1968. He taught briefly at Government
Secondary Kechia from February – September 1969.

Admiral Afolayan enlisted in the
Nigerian Defence Academy on the 4th of October 1969 as a member
of the Regular Course 7. He successfully completed his cadet
training in April 1971 and came out with flying colours as the
best Science and Naval cadet respectively. He was commissioned
as a Sub-lieutenant in July 1972 and since then has attended
several courses both in Nigeria and abroad.

He
did his Sub-technical course at the Britania Royal Naval College.
Dartmouth, England in 1973, Long Course in Navigation and
Direction at Cocin, India, And Principal Warfare Officers’
course from May – September 1978 at HMS Dry Yard in
Portsmouth. He also attended the Command and Staff college,
Jaji from 1981 – 1982 as a member of CSC Course 4. He
was at the Naval Post Graduate School, Montery, California
in the United States from October – December 1983. He
was a pioneer participant at the National War College, Lagos,
Course 1 from 1991 – 1992.

Admiral Afolayan has held
a number of appointments both ashore and afloat. He served
at various times as Navigating Officer of NNS OTOBO, NNS ENYIMIRI
and NNS NIGERIA. He was commanding officer of NNS HADEJIA,
NNS EKUN, and NNS OLOKUN. He served as Directing Staff at
CSC Jaji from April 1984 – August 1985 and Chief Instructor,
Joint Warfare Division, CSC Jaji 1993 – 1994. He was
Director of Manpower and Planning and later Director of Manning
at the Naval Headquarters.

He also served as Chief Staff
Officer, Eastern Naval Command from 21 September 1994 to 5
May 1996, 15 January 1997. He was one time Director of Plans
DHQ, Director of Administration at the Armed Forces and Police
PTF and later headed it as its Commander. He assumed Command
as the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command on 26
July 1999, an appointment he held till 24 April 2001 when
he was named the Chief of the Naval Staff.

Vice Admiral Afolayan’s
decorations include Forces Service Star (FSS), Meritorious
Service Star (MSS) Distinguished Service Star (DSS) and Commander
of the Federal Republic (CFR). He is married with children
and he enjoys reading, sports and indoor games such as Chess
and Scrabble.